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Tesamorelin vs CJC-1295: What the Research Shows

Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
GHRH analogFDA approved (Egrifta)TesamorelinFDA-approved GHRH analog (Egrifta) for excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy; visceral fat fell 15.2% versus a 5.0% rise with placebo in a randomized trial.[15]Growth hormone+188% searchesGHRH analogNot FDA approved · research chemicalCJC-1295CJC-1295, a GHRH analog; in healthy adults a single injection produced dose-dependent rises in mean plasma GH of 2- to 10-fold and in IGF-I of 1.5- to 3-fold.[9]Growth hormone+49% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider Tesamorelin if…

  • you want a product with an FDA label: Egrifta is indicated to reduce excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected adults with lipodystrophy and is not indicated for weight loss management[5]
  • you want randomized data in HIV-associated lipodystrophy: Visceral adipose tissue fell 15.2% with tesamorelin and rose 5.0% with placebo by the end of treatment.[15]

Consider CJC-1295 if…

  • you want randomized human hormone data (hormone levels, not a clinical benefit): a single injection raised mean plasma GH 2- to 10-fold for 6 days or more[9]

What they have in common

  • WADA prohibits GHRH and its analogues at all times; its list names CJC-1295, sermorelin and tesamorelin[2]
Both are prohibited in tested sport (WADA). Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 8 of 14 fields where the two differ. Class, Category, PCAC vote, Jul 2026, WADA, Anti-doping detection, Evidence strength are the same or both unknown.

FieldTesamorelinCJC-1295
Also calledtesa, EgriftaCJC, mod GRF, GRF 1-29
FDA statusFDA approved (Egrifta)Not FDA approved · research chemical
Half-life11 minutessubcutaneous (EGRIFTA WR 1.28 mg) · FDA label (Egrifta WR)No published half-life foundPubMed search, 2 Oct 2026
Human studies we summarised11 human (11 randomized or controlled) of 12 summarised4 human (1 randomized or controlled) of 7 summarised
Typical study doses
Vial sizes sold2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg
US searches per month165,000 · +188% searches60,500 · +49% searches
Named in FDA warning letters, 2026Yes (24 Aug 2026)Not in the letters we track

Bracketed values are pending a sourced figure. Legal data reflects the regulatory events in our tracker.

Taken together?

Tesamorelin and CJC-1295 together

People also search for this pair as a stack. The stack page covers timing and interaction questions as they are sourced. Evidence for the combination: No studies tested these together (PubMed search: 15 results, 2 Oct 2026).

Open the stack page
StackTesamorelin + CJC-1295, taken as separate injectionsStack page

Sources

  1. 1FDA warning letters to five research-peptide sellersFDA warning letter (NuScience Peptides; 1 of 5) · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3An antibody-free, ultrafiltration-based assay for the detection of growth hormone-releasing hormones in urine at low pg/mL concentrations using nanoLC-HRMS/MS.Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2022PMID 35298973Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Advances in the detection of growth hormone releasing hormone synthetic analogs.Drug testing and analysis · 2021PMID 34665524Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5EGRIFTA WR (TESAMORELIN) KIT [THERATECHNOLOGIES INC.]FDA label (Egrifta WR), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6The effect of growth hormone-releasing hormone on cognition and brain connectivity in adults with cognition ranging from normal to mild cognitive impairment.eNeurologicalSci · 2026PMID 42382101Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Effects of tesamorelin on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in HIV: a randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial.The lancet. HIV · 2019PMID 31611038Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8The Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analogue, Tesamorelin, Decreases Muscle Fat and Increases Muscle Area in Adults with HIV.The Journal of frailty & aging · 2019PMID 31237318Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 16352683Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) persists during continuous stimulation by CJC-1295, a long-acting GH-releasing hormone analog.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 17018654Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Once-daily administration of CJC-1295, a long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog, normalizes growth in the GHRH knockout mouse.American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism · 2006PMID 16822960Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) (33 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (7 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14PubMed search: ("CJC-1295"[tiab] OR CJC1295[tiab]) AND (tesamorelin[tiab] OR Egrifta[tiab] OR TH9507[tiab] OR "TH-9507"[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15Metabolic effects of a growth hormone-releasing factor in patients with HIV.The New England journal of medicine · 2007PMID 18057338Accessed 2 Oct 2026

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